Breakfast was served at the hotel at 7 o'clock. I gobbled up my food and had to ask for more coffee. I was on the road again at 8 o'clock. I noticed that the streets were wet. It had rained during the night. The sky looks ominously.

Click on picture to enlarge. While I sit here in Cesky Krumlov enjoying a fantastic view it looks even more ominous. It drizzles a bit. I suppose I have 40 km to the border from here. I am not sure how long I will ride today. Ruzmberk 11.24 a.m. The 25 km from Cesky Krumlov to here was on an absolutely flat road, which wound along a small river.

The road was rather narrow, and from time to time the traffic was heavy.
On the river I saw hundreds of canoes.
I have 15 km to the border and I dropped in at a very cosy little restaurant to have some lunch and a cup of coffee. The weather has not yet decided what to do. Rain or no rain: We will see about that. But the temperature is pleasant, around 20 degr. C

Whoops, I happened to order a coke. I think I did it because I have waited such a long time for the food I ordered.

But it finally got here, and it was a wonderful last meal I had in the Czech rep. I am aware of the fact that I from now on I will visit very few restaurant So I wanted this meal to be special. I ordered grilled carp with accompaniments That was really something

I rode on towards the border. I had expected strong hills, but it was nothing. At the border I had to answer some questions. For some reason they were anxious to know where I started out from this morning. I saw no problems in telling them about that.

And then, Austria. It's always interesting to visit a country the first time, and this was in fact my first visit to Austria. Right after the border I exchanged my last Czech currency and at the same place I ordered a cup of coffee. It might have been a good idea to ask about the price first, because I had to pay 22 Ös, which I think is very expensive. During my stay in Czech Rep. I have stopped looking at the prices for coffee and other minor things.

I said hello to a great number of very steep and long hills right after the border and they continued all the way to Linz. Sometimes the traffic was hectic, but it was ok. 10 km before Linz the signs told me to seek the smaller roads, and the closer I got to Linz the more problems I had finding the right way. I really get as cross as two sticks when I get to a city and find out they have forgotten that it should be possible for bikes to pass without great difficulties.

Finally I happened to stray into a highway. I was detected by the local police and they stopped me by means of blue flashing lights, sirens and loudspeakers. I understood their mesage at once and excused myself. They were not too angry and told me to ride on the highway till the next exit about 1000 m away. They would escort me with the flashing lights turned on. From time to time they came up to me and asked various questions. Nice people, but I was not too happy about the situation.

At a snail's pace I fought my way towards the centre of the middle of Linz. Just as I had stopped at a red light in the square I heard a voice call out, Hi Holger". Well, if it wasn't my cousin Marianne from Nibe in northern Jutland. Now she lives in England with her husband Jeff and their children. She and Jeff were on a cruise on the river Danube, and when they spotted me, they were going for a walk around the square. Click on picture to enlarge

We had a talk, took a number of photos and went to a pavement cafe to have a refreshment. Before we parted we told each other that this was indeed the most happy coincidence we had experienced for a very long time.

I rode out of Linz in the direction of Wells. It was still very difficult to find the roads where I was allowed to ride, but at last I found the correct one and at last found myself outside Linz. I was very surprised to find out that the road between Linz and Wells was completely flat. But far away I was able to locate snow-clad peaks waiting for me.

It had been a slow day and it was getting late. I asked a few people if they knew about any camping sites in the area. But unfortunately they had no such thing at their disposal. The last one I asked suggested that I went into a nearby forest, where I undoubtedly could find a place to camp. I followed his advice and very soon I found a very suitable place.

Just as I had finished putting up the tent it started to rain heavily. All night I had rain, thunder and lightning, but I did not really care, as I lay there in my sleeping bag, absolutely dry and warm.

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